Abstract: Described is a method for the incorporation of formaldehyde into biomass comprising the following enzymatically catalyzed steps (1) condensation of pyruvate with formaldehyde into 4-hydroxy-2-oxobutanoic acid (HOB); (2) amination of the thus produced 4-hydroxy-2-oxobutanoic acid (HOB) to produce homoserine; (3) conversion of thus produced homoserine to threonine; (4) conversion of the thus produced threonine into glycine and acetaldehyde or acetyl-CoA; (5) condensation of the thus produced glycine with formaldehyde to produce serine; and (6) conversion of the thus produced serine to produce pyruvate, wherein said pyruvate can then be used as a substrate in step (1).

Abstract: The present application relates to a method for adaptive evolution of living cells by continuous culture of said living cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cellular transport system for bringing a sulfonic acid construct which carries a cargo into a cell and releasing the cargo in the cell's cytoplasm, the cellular transport system comprising: (i) a sulfonate transporter located in the cytoplasm membrane of the cell wherein said sulfonate transporter is capable of transporting said sulfonic acid construct across the cytoplasm membrane into the cytoplasm; (ii) a ?-glutamyl transferase (GGT; EC 2.3.2.2) which is modified to be located in the cytoplasm of the cell, wherein said ?-glutamyl transferase is capable of hydrolyzing said sulfonic acid construct so as to release the cargo. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of a cellular transport system for bringing a sulfonic acid construct which contains a cargo into a cell and releasing the cargo in the cell's cytoplasm. Further, the present invention relates to a ?-glutamyl transferase for hydrolyzing a sulfonic acid construct which contains a cargo.

Abstract: Described are mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase variants having improved activity in converting 3-phosphonoxyisovalerate into isobutene. Such variants can be employed in processes for biologically producing isobutene from 3-hydroxyisovalerate or from 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate into isobutene, for biologically producing isoprenol from mevalonate or from mevalonate-3-phosphate or for biologically producing 1,3-butadiene from 3-hydroxypent-4-enoate or from 3-phosphonoxypent-4-enoate. Also described is an enzyme which is characterized in that it is capable of converting 3-phosphonoxyisovalerate into isobutene with a kcat of more than 0.1 s?1.

Abstract: Described are methods for the production of isobutene comprising the enzymatic conversion of 3-methylcrotonic acid into isobutene wherein said 3-methylcrotonic acid is obtained by the enzymatic conversion of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylcrotonic acid or wherein said 3-methylcrotonic acid is obtained by the enzymatic conversion of 3-hydroxyisovalerate (HIV) into 3-methylcrotonic acid. It is described that the enzymatic conversion of 3-methylcrotonic acid into isobutene can, e.g., be achieved by making use of a 3-methylcrotonic acid decarboxylase, preferably an FMN-dependent decarboxylase associated with an FMN prenyl transferase, an aconitate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.6), a methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.4), or a geranoyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.5).

Abstract: Described is a method for the enzymatic production of an acyl phosphate from a 2-hydroxyaldehyde using a phosphoketolase or a sulfoacetaldehyde acetyltransferase.

Abstract: Described are methods for the production of isobutene comprising the enzymatic conversion of 3-methylcrotonic acid into isobutene wherein said 3-methylcrotonic acid is obtained by the enzymatic conversion of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylcrotonic acid or wherein said 3-methylcrotonic acid is obtained by the enzymatic conversion of 3-hydroxyisovalerate (HIV) into 3-methylcrotonic acid. It is described that the enzymatic conversion of 3-methylcrotonic acid into isobutene can, e.g., be achieved by making use of a 3-methylcrotonic acid decarboxylase, preferably an FMN-dependent decarboxylase associated with an FMN prenyl transferase, an aconitate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.6), a methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.4), or a geranoyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.5).

Abstract: Described are recombinant microorganisms characterized by having phosphoketolase activity, having a diminished or inactivated Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway (EMPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding phosphofructokinase or by reducing phosphofructokinase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism and having a diminished or inactivated oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or by reducing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism. These microorganisms can be used for the production of useful metabolites such as acetone, isobutene or propene.

Abstract: Described is a method for the enzymatic production of acetyl phosphate from formaldehyde using a phosphoketolase or a sulfoacetaldehyde acetyltransferase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cellular transport system for bringing a sulfonic acid construct which carries a cargo into a cell and releasing the cargo in the cell's cytoplasm, the cellular transport system comprising: (i) a sulfonate transporter located in the cytoplasm membrane of the cell wherein said sulfonate transporter is capable of transporting said sulfonic acid construct across the cytoplasm membrane into the cytoplasm; (ii) a ?-glutamyl transferase (GGT; EC 2.3.2.2) which is modified to be located in the cytoplasm of the cell, wherein said ?-glutamyl transferase is capable of hydrolyzing said sulfonic acid construct so as to release the cargo. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of a cellular transport system for bringing a sulfonic acid construct which contains a cargo into a cell and releasing the cargo in the cell's cytoplasm. Further, the present invention relates to a ?-glutamyl transferase for hydrolyzing a sulfonic acid construct which contains a cargo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an organism, a tissue, a cell or an organelle expressing enzymes which allow the conversion of 2-phosphoglycolate (2-PG; also known as glycolate 2-phosphate,) into an intermediate compound of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham Cycle (CBBC) without releasing CO2. The organism, tissue, cell or organelle of the invention may be genetically engineered, transgenic and/or transplastomic so as to express at least one enzyme which is involved in this conversion. The present invention further relates to an organism, tissue, cell or organelle which comprises/expresses at least one enzyme which is involved in this conversion. The present invention further relates to a method for producing an organism, tissue, cell or organelle of the invention. The present invention further relates to a method of enzymatically converting 2-PG into an intermediate compound of the CBBC without releasing CO2.

Abstract: Described is a method for the enzymatic production of an acyl phosphate from a 2-hydroxyaldehyde using a phosphoketolase or a sulfoacetaldehyde acetyltransferase.

Abstract: Described is a method for the conversion of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid comprising the steps of: (a) enzymatically converting 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl-CoA; and (b) further enzymatically converting the thus produced 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl-CoA into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid wherein the enzymatic conversion of 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl-CoA into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid according to step (b) is achieved by first converting 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl-CoA into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl phosphate and then subsequently converting the thus produced 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyryl phosphate into 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid.

Abstract: Described is a method for the production of D-erythrose and acetyl phosphate comprising the enzymatic conversion of D-fructose into D-erythrose and acetyl phosphate by making use of a phosphoketolase. The produced D-erythrose can further be converted into glycolaldehyde by a method for the production of glycolaldehyde comprising the enzymatic conversion of D-erythrose into glycolaldehyde by making use of an aldolase, wherein aldolase is a 2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase (EC 4.1.2.4) or a fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (EC 4.1.2.13). The produced glycolaldehyde can finally be converted into acetyl phosphate by the enzymatic conversion of the thus produced glycolaldehyde into acetyl phosphate by making use of a phosphoketolase or a sulfoacetaldehyde acetyltransferase.

Abstract: Described are HIV kinase variants showing an improved activity in converting 3-hydroxyisovalerate (HIV) into 3-phosphonoxyisovalerate (PIV), methods for the production of PIV using such enzyme variants as well as methods for the production isobutene in a subsequent reaction.

Abstract: Described are 3-hydroxyisovalerate (HIV) synthase variants having improved activity in converting acetone and a compound which provides an activated acetyl group into 3-hydroxyisovalerate (HIV). Moreover, described are in particular methods for the production of 3-hydroxyisovalerate and methods for the production of isobutene from acetone utilizing the HIV synthase variants of the present invention.

Abstract: Described are recombinant microorganisms characterized by having phosphoketolase activity, having a diminished or inactivated Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway (EMPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding phosphofructokinase or by reducing phosphofructokinase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism and having a diminished or inactivated oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or by reducing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism. These microorganisms can be used for the production of useful metabolites such as acetone, isobutene or propene.

Abstract: Described is a method for the production of isobutene from 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA comprising the steps of: (a) enzymatically converting 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylbutyric acid; and (b) further enzymatically converting the thus produced 3-methylbutyric acid into isobutene. The conversion of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylbutyric acid can be achieved by first enzymatically converting 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methyl butyryl-CoA and further enzymatically converting the thus produced 3-methylbutyryl-CoA into 3-methylbutyric acid. Alternatively, the conversion of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylbutyric acid can be achieved by first enzymatically converting 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylcrotonic acid and then further enzymatically converting the thus produced 3-methylcrotonic acid into 3-methylbutyric acid.

Abstract: Described are recombinant microorganisms characterized by having phosphoketolase activity, having a diminished or inactivated Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway (EMPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding phosphofructokinase or by reducing phosphofructokinase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism and having a diminished or inactivated oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or by reducing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism. These microorganisms can be used for the production of useful metabolites such as acetone, isobutene or propene.

Abstract: Described are methods for the production of isobutene comprising the enzymatic conversion of 3-methylcrotonic acid into isobutene wherein said 3-methylcrotonic acid is obtained by the enzymatic conversion of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA into 3-methylcrotonic acid or wherein said 3-methylcrotonic acid is obtained by the enzymatic conversion of 3-hydroxyisovalerate (HIV) into 3-methylcrotonic acid. It is described that the enzymatic conversion of 3-methylcrotonic acid into isobutene can, e.g., be achieved by making use of a 3-methylcrotonic acid decarboxylase, preferably an FMN-dependent decarboxylase associated with an FMN prenyl transferase, an aconitate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.6), a methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.4), or a geranoyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.5).